This work investigates the complex interplay between affect and representation within the framework of psychoanalytic theory. André Green, a prominent French psychoanalyst, draws upon his extensive clinical experience and theoretical background to challenge traditional views on how emotions are processed in the psyche. He proposes a sophisticated model that links the somatic experience of affect to the symbolic structures of language and thought, arguing that affect is not merely a byproduct of drive but a foundational element of psychic life.

Experts in the field of psychoanalysis recognize this text as a dense and rigorous contribution to the understanding of psychic functioning. Readers frequently note the high level of academic complexity, making it a challenging but rewarding resource for advanced practitioners and scholars of Green's work.